2024 Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC) Annual Conference: ISAC Educational Seminar: Iowa State University Soil Compaction Study
Abstract: Drs. Mehari Tekeste and Mark Hanna will discuss research they have been leading related to soil impacts and cropland recovery from heavy equipment, such as during pipeline construction. Currently, with support from ISAC, they are studying the potential for excessive soil compaction during different soil moisture conditions to inform development of guidelines that can be used to improve the potential for cropland recovery after construction activities. The impacts on soil they are researching have implications for water infiltration, erosion, and water quality. Dr. Mehari Tekeste is the Associate Professor and Director, Soil Machine Dynamics Laboratory, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University, and Dr. Mark Hanna is a retired Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Specialist, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
https://www.iowacounties.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IA-CTY_December-2023_OPT.pdf
2024 Soil Compaction Management: Field Machinery Traffic and Impacts on Soil Physical Properties and Crop Yield- University of Missouri| Columbia, MO|2024 Crop Management Conference
Abstract: The continuous trend of agricultural farm equipment getting bigger with heavier axles create concerns of soil compaction from excessive loading on wet and loose soil conditions, negatively impacting water infiltration, root development, and crop yield. The effect of machine-induced soil compaction on soil stress under dynamic tire and track vehicle passes, soil physical properties (soil bulk density and soil cone index) and crop yields was investigated in central Iowa. Field measurement of soil compaction and tools to predict soil compaction can be used to manage the effects of soil compaction and will be presented.